Aerial tramway system



Banu 22, 1924.

4 E. H. SACKETT AERIAL TRAMWAY SYSTEM Filed June 26. 1.922 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 22, 1924.

E. H. SACKETT AERIAL TRAMWAY SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 26. 1922 E. H. sAcKET-r AERIAL TRM/:WAY SYSTEM Filed June 26. 1922' 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fatented Jan. 22, i924.

ATN?

EDWARD H. SACKE'IT, OF ARVADA, COLORAD.

AER-IAL TRAMWAY SYSTEV.

Application filed June 26, 1922. Serial No. 570,921.

7 10 all whom 'it .muy con-cern.'

Be it known that I, EDWARD H. Saonnrr, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Arvada, in the county of Jefferson, State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Aerial Tramway Systems; and l do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled inthe art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to provide an aerial tramway system., which will eliminate undue wear and bending strains of the traction cable, will eliminate the usual rise and fall of t-he traction cable at points of support, more particularly at support-s at peaks of rises, will take. the weight and strain of the traction cable from they grip of the carrier and hence from the carrier itself and from the track cable upon which the carrier runs, and will eliminate tilting of the carrier and its bucket when `on inclines.

Heretofore it has been the practice to provide on'each support a grooved roller for the traction cable which roller has been at a distance below the track cable for the carrier and bucket to clear the same when passing the support. This has made it necessary for the grip on the carrier to lift the traction cable from the roller up to the height of the grip as the carrier passed the support, thus producing considerable strain upon the traction cable and transmitting all the downpull and weight of the traction cable to the grip and thence to the carrier and to the track cable. This has been aggravated whe-rever the support was located at the peak Vof a rise, since the downpull of the traction' cable at both sides of the support had to be cared for and the strain was practically doubled. The result has been undue wear upon the rolling stock which has therefore been short lived comparatively, In addition, when the traction cable has been lifted by the grip from the roller, the rollerk has materially slowed down or entirely7 stopped before'the traction Vcable was Aagain lowered onto the roller, with the result that the dragging of the rapidly moving traction cable across the rollerL until the latter picked upto the speed of the traction .cable has worn spots in the 4traction cable which materially weakened the same.

The present invention overcomesV all of these diiiiculties and greatly facilitates the tramming operations, the wear and tear on the parts being greatly reduced-and the life thereof consequently being prolonged.

Briefly the present invention comprises supports, a track cable thereon, a traction cable, traction cable rollers mounted on the supports, and a carrier supported by the track cable and being in the form of a carriage traveling on the track cable, a hanger and its bucket, the hanger being provided with a traction cable grip, and the traction cable roller on each support being a distance from the track cable approximating the distance between the track cable and the grip on the hanger. vThispositioning of the Y roller with respect tothe track cable andthe grip takes all the weight and strainy of the traction cable from ther Carrier and from the track cable. This feature is particularlyvaluable on a support which is at thepeak of a rise, since all the weight and strain ofthe traction cable on both sides of the peakr is takendirectly by the roller at all times.Y The' grip itself passes over the roller when the carrier passes the support and the only elevation of the traction cable is that small` amount which represents the thicknessv of the grip where it engages the roller. Preferably the grip is vertically movable upon the hanger so that. it will rise and fall with the traction cable so as to further relieve the carrier of all weight of the traction cable. The grip also is rotatably mountedin orderlthat it may assume the direction of the traction cable when on an incline without tilting the hanger and itsv bucket.` The grip has a movable jaw for releasably engaging the traction cable, and means are provided for automatically adjust-ing the aw so that it may be run 4from a. traction cable of one size and then onto a second traction cable of another size and be operatively engaged with the latter immediately and preferably auton'iatically.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein certain 4embodiments of the invention are Fig. 2 1s a vertical section. through the grip and its mounting taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1

Fig.73 is a horizontal Section-'Of f1.1@ 'llB and its mounting looking upward and taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional detail similar to that of Fig. 2 showing parts in ele vation;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional detail ot the outer portion of the grip taken on line 5--5 of Fig. l;

Fig. 6 is a view partially in section and partially in rear elevation. indicated in part by the line 6 6 of Fig. 2, and showing the entire carrier in operative relation to the track and traction cables and to the traction cable roller;

Fig. 7 is an elevation showing the relation of all the parts of the system at the peak of a` rise;

Fig. 8 is an elevation largely diagram matie indicating the means and method of adjustment of the grip and transfer thereof -trom a tractioncable of one size to a traction cable of another size.

A hanger l0 is shown as carrying a bucket l2 journaled at let on arms 16 connected with the hanger, any locking means (not shown) being provided to retain the bucket in upright position. Obviously other means than the bucket may beemployed according to the materials to be handled. `The hanger 10 is pivoted at 18 to the carriage 2O provided with wheels22 travelling upon the track cable 24. The -carriage 20., hanger l0 and bucket 12 constitute a carrier as a unit and will be termed as such. At points of support the track cable 24 will rest upon saddles 25 carried by the supports 26 in any well known or desired manner. The traction cafble 28 is carried below the track cable 24C and normally travels in a groove .29 on the periphery of a roller 30 journaled at 3l on the. support 26. The grip comprises a fixed jaw 32 for receiving the traction cable 28 and the under side of this jaw is formed half round or substantially so as indicated at 33 for passing into a corresponding groove in the roller 30 above cable groove 29 and thereby passing `over the roller. The top of the roller 30 is at. approximately the saine dista-nce from the track cable 24 as is the jaw 32 normally, so that the weight of the traction cable will be borne by the roller 30 at all times, even 'when the carrier is passing the sup-port.

The hanger l0 is provided with a plurality lof vertically disposed guide rods 31 which pass through the outer ends ofi a yoke adapted to slide upon said rods and thus allow the grip jaw 32 to have a rising and falling movement whenever there is any variation in distance between the two cables. Yoke 35 is provided with a cylindrical housing or bearing 36 for a cylindrical aw box 38 with which preferably the jaw 32 is i-ntegral, whereby the box 38 may rotate withinpthe yoke permit rotary Inovenientot the jaw Thus the grip may rotate with respect to hanger l() and assume the direction of' the traction cable 28 regardless of the inclination of the traction cable.

rlhus, the weightV and strain ot' the traction cable 28 is taken from the carrier and the track cable 2% by the rising and falling of the yoke and the grip 32, and tilting ot the hanger l0 and undue bending of the traction cable 28 when the traction cable` is on an inclination are eliminated.

Jaw box or drum 38 is retained in the yoke bearing 36 by means of an annular flange 40 on thel -front of" the box and through the medium of a cap 42 which is fitted over and secured to the rear of the box or drum. ri`he jaw 32 proper is preferably integral with box 38 as above stated, but the extensions lathereof which are provided to facilitate passing over the roller 30 may be either integral with jaw 32 as shown in Fig. l or sepa-rate and pinned thereto as at Ll5 in Fig. 5. Considered longitudinally of the entire jaw 32, the under faces thereof are inclined upwardly from the middle of the jaw as indicated at 46, the extremities of the tapered to a thin edge in order that the jaw may pass easily onto the rollers 30 assupports 26 are passed. inasmuch as the jaw 32 is offset and the roller 30 is offset on the support 26, the entire carrier freely passes the support with the weight of the cable remaining' on the roller.

The rear of the jaw 32 behind the traction cable 28 is channeled to provide upstanding side flanges or guides 48 integral with the box 38, whereby a passage is provided for a movable clamping jaw 50 which cooperates with the aw 32 to grip the cable 28. This jaw is in the form of a slidable block which is retained in said passage as by means of a plate 52 secured to the flanges 48 .and overlying said jaw 50. An opening 54; is provided in the box 38 at the rear of jaw 32 whichreceives the rear end of plate 52 and also provides for reciprocation of movable jaw 50. At 56 a link 58 is pivoted to jaw 50, said link being connected by a toggle joint 60 with an arin 62 and a toggle 64, the

latter being pivoted at to an operating lever 66 which is fulcrumed at 68 on lugs 69 carried on an interior wall of the box 38. The pivot pin 65 passes through a pocket in thc end of lever 68, this pocket having a back wall T0 which limits the motion of lever 68 and maintains the parts locked in position just beyond dead center so as to retain the joint in extended position and maintain the jaw 50 in clamping engagement With .the traction cable28, spring 72 assisting.

The opposite end ot arm `62 is enlarged to provide a strap 77 working upon an eccentric 7% whose center journals 7.5 are carried in brackets 'T 6. One of the journals 75- Ihas llO a worm wheel 78 securedrthereto which is driven by a worm 79 housed in cap 42 and in turn driven through the medium of a star wheel 80, the worm housing being indicated at 81. Operation of the star wheel 8O adj lists the position of the eccentric 74 to vary the throw of the parts so that the movable the carrier travels. See Figs. 6 and 8, where Y the rack is indicated at 84.

In Fig. 8 means is shown for automatically transferring the carrier and its grip v from onecable to another of different size,

as the carrier moves.r As the carrier runs into the station ontrack 24 'the lever 66 is tripped and thrown up by means of a detacher in the form of a cam 90, the spring 72 holding the lever 66 in elevated position. The yoke then drops down on the rods 34 and the cable 28 is carried away, thus freeing the grip. The carrier passes on causing the star wheel 8O to travel along the rack 84 which automatically adjusts the worm wheel 78 and eccentric 74 to proper position for clamping the next traction cable 128 against jaw 32 by jaw 50 `of the grip. As the carrier continues to move the grip passes under cable 128 and the parts are so arranged that the cable enters the grip. The lever 66 is then actuated by an attacher in the form ofV a cam 190 to move the toggle joint to operate position and move jaw into clamping engagement with the cable. Pulleys 92 and 93 carry the ends of the cables 28 and 128.

In this manner the carrier may be run onto a lighter cable where less strength is required. Also in a similar manner the carrier may be readily transferred. from a traction cable running at one speed to a second cable running at another speed. This is of much importance sincevit permits of running carriers slowly through loading or unloading stationswithout reducing the speed of the main transporting cable.

One of the great advantages of the present construction is brought out in Fig. 7, where the support 26 is at the peak of a rise. It will be noted that the weight and strain of the traction cable 28 is always entirely on the roller 30 carried by the support. As the grip jaw 32 approaches the roller it gradually rides up on the roller and the yoke 35 and the grip slide up on the rods until the grip has passedl the roller whereupon the same returns to normal position. No further strain has been trans mitted to the carrier beyond the normal pull of the traction cable.` The yonly additional strain on the traction cable has been that necessary to lift it the thickness of the jaw 32 which is approximately one inch. This is a marked distinction over former systems where the tractioncable has frequently been lifted many 'eet even at the peak of a rise.

The present invention therefore results in much smoother operation throughout the system, reduces the wear and tear on rolling stock as well as on both track and traction cables, and brings about a great saving in power consumption, since all additional strains require additional power for overcoming them.

I claim:

l. A carrier for aerial tramways, and a cable grip mounted thereon having rotary motion and being movable vertically thereon. 2. An aerial tramway comprising a track member, a carrier thereon, a'traction cable, a traction cable grip on thecarrienand a grooved roller adapted to receive the traction cable, the grip having a jaw whose under side is adapted to engage in the groove of the roller and pass over the roller, whereby the weight of the cable is always carried by the'roller. Y

3. In an aerial tramway, a track member,

a carrier thereon, a grip on the carrier, a traction cable engaged by the grip, and a roller over which both the grip and the traction cable are adapted to pass. 4. In an aerial tramway, a track member, a carrier thereon, a grip on the carrier, a traction ycable engaged by the grip, and a roller over which both the grip and the cable pass, the grip being bodily movable on the carrier for elevation of the grip with respect thereto when passing over the roller.

5. In an aerial tramway, a carrier, a cable grip thereon having relatively movable jaws, and means for automatically adjusting one of the jaws in order that the grip may pass from a cable of one size to a cable of another size.

6. A cable grip having a xed jaw and a movable jaw, and means for automatically adjusting the movable jaw for taking cables l of different sizes.

7. In an aerial tramway, a track, a carrier thereon, a traction cable grip on the carrier having a movable jaw, means for adjusting the position of the movable jaw, and a device adapted for engagementv with said means for automatically adjusting said jaw in order that the grip may pass from a cable of one size to a cable of another size.

8. In an aerial tramway, a hanger, a track therefor, a, traction cable grip on said hanger having Va movable jaw, a pair of traction cables of :diiferent -siaes lli-aving adjacent portions, means tor releasing said jaw from one cable,`1neans for automatically .adjusting the jaw while released, `and 'mea-ns for clamping the jaw on the other cable.

9. In an aerial tramway, a track, a carrier thereon., a 'traction cable grip `ontheL carrier having a movable aw., means'for adjusting said jaw, a pair of traction cables of dit'- l'erent sizes having adjacent portions, means for releasing 'the `grip from one cable, means for engaging and actuating said automatically adjusting means while the grip is disengaged, and means for operating the AInovable jaw to clanip the grip `on the other cable.

10. In an aerial tramway, a track, a support therefor, a roller on the support, a traction Cable travelling over tlire.aoller', a carrier on the track, a `traction cable grip on the carrier and adapted to pass over lsaid roller while engagingr the cable, the distance between the top of the roller and the track approximating the distance between `the grip the track so that the roller supports the weight of the cable at all times.

l1. In an aerial tramway, a track, a support IJtherefor, a roller ony the support, a traction cable travelling over the roller, a carrier-'on the track, la traction-cable grip on the carrier and bodily movable thereon vertically, said grip being adapted to pass over the roller while engaginfr the cable, said grip thereby being elevated zslightly with the cable and with respect to the carrier when the grip passes over the roller, the distance between the top voi' the roller and the track approximating the distance between the grip `and the track, whereby the roller supports the weight of the cable at all times.

l2. ln combination, a carrier for aerial tramways having a wheel and vertically disposed guides, a yoke movable on said guides and a cable grip carried by said yoke, a traction cable engaged by said grip, and a track cable engaged by said wheel.

13. In combination, a carrier tor aerial 4tr-ainways having vertically disposed guides, a yoke movable upon said guides, and a cable grip rotatably mounted upon said yoke.

In testimony whereof l aix rny signature.

EDXVARD H. SACKETT. 

